Malta Language Basics
Your comprehensive guide to Everything Malta
At varying levels, English is spoken and understood by all in Malta (in certain regions it is also the language of choice). Italian is also widely spoken. Having said this, attempting to say a couple of words in ‘Malti’ when seeking assistance or receiving a service will go a long way to break the ice and turn a hesitant local into an amiable character!
| Essentials | (pronounced) | |
| Yes | Iva | iva |
| No | Le | le |
| Please to meet you | Ghandi pjacir | undi pyachir |
| How are you ? | Kif inti ? | Kiyf into |
| Do you speak English | Titkellem bl-Ingliz | titkellem blinglis |
| My name is | Jisimni | yisimni |
| So long | Caw | chaw |
| Good morning | Bongu | bonju |
| Good evening | Bonswa | bonswa |
| Good night | Il-lejl it-tajjeb | illeyl itayeb |
| Good-bye | Sahha | sahha |
| Please | Jekk joghgbok | yek yojbok |
| Thank you | Grazzi | gratsi |
| Many thanks | Grazzi hafna | gratsi hafna |
| Very good/well | Tajjeb hafna | tayeb hafna |
| Welcome | M’hemmx mn’hiex | memsh mnish |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Skuzani | skuzani |
| I need a doctor | Ghandi bzonn tabib | undi bson tabib |
| Questions | ||
| Where? | Fejn? | feyn |
| How? | Kif? | kiyf |
| When? | Meta? | meta |
| What? | X'hini? | shiniy |
| Why? | Ghaliex? | alish |
| Who? | Min? | miyn |
| Which? | Liema? | lima |
| Where is? | Fejn hu? | feyn uw |
| Where are? | Fejn huma? | feyn uma |
| Where can I find? | Fejn insib? | feyn insib |
| How far? | Kemm hu boghod | kem u bod |
| How long? | Kemm iddum? | kem iddum |
| How much/many? | Kemm? | kem |
| Wishes | ||
| Merry Christmas | Il-Milied it-Tajjeb | il milid it tayeb |
| Happy New Year | Is-Sena t-Tajba | is sena it tayba |
| Happy Easter | L-Ghid it-Tajjeb | leyd it tayeb |
| Happy Birthday | Awguri tal-birthday | awguri tal 'birthday' |
| Best Wishes | Awguri | awguri |
| Congratulations | Nifrahlek | nifrahlek |
| Good luck | Ix-Xorti t-Tajba | ish shorti it tayba |
| Regards | Inselli ghalik | inselli alik |
| Goodbye | Sahha | sahha |
| Bye | Ciao | chaw |
| Time | ||
| During the day | Matul il-gurnata | matul il jurnata |
| In the afternoon | Wara nofs in-nhar | wara nofs inar |
| In the evening | Fil-ghaxija | fil ashiya |
| At night | Bil-lejl | bil leyl |
| Yesterday | Il-bierah | il birah |
| Today | Illum | illum |
| Tomorrow | Ghada | ada |
| The weather | ||
| What a lovely day! | X'gurnata sabiha! | shjurnata sabiha |
| What awful weather! | X'temp hazin! | shtemp hazin |
| It's cold / hot | Il-kesha / is-shana | il kesha / is s hana |
| Do you think it's | Tahseb li se taghmel | tahseb li se tamel |
| going to rain? | ix-xita? | ish shita |
| Emergency | ||
| Call the police | Sejjah pulizija | seyyah pulitsiya |
| Danger | Periklu | periklu |
| Fire | Nar | nar |
| Get a doctor | Sejjah tabib | seyyah tabiyb |
| Go away | Mur 'l hemm | muwr lem |
| Help | Ajut | ayut |
| Get help quickly | Sejjah ghajnuna malajr | seyyah aynuwna malayr |
| I'm ill | Inhossni hazin | inhossni haziyn |
| I'm lost | Intlift | intlift |
| Leave me alone | Hallini kwiet/a(f) | halliyni kwit/a(f) |
| Look out! | Attenzjoni! | attentsyoni |
| Police | Pulizija | pulitsiya |
| Quick | Malajr | malayr |
| Stop | Ieqaf | i'af i'fu |
